Kathleen Castro Email & Phone Number

United States

Special Education Secondary Teacher Nominated for Special Education Parent Advisory Award by School Committee Chair

Managed the 9-12 Edgenuity program for Special Education during COVID-19 pandemic at a brick and mortar high school. Maintained IEP services during remote learning. Provided direct services and explicit instruction to the 9-12 Special Education student cohort. Formed relationships with all school district stakeholders and home guardians to deliver IEP services and instruction. Created social emotional learning (SEL) platforms and groups to support distance learners. Partnered with adjustment counselors and guidance department to provide SEL opportunities for the remote learning populations.

Provide professional development (PD) webinar sessions that develop the key skills, knowledge, and dispositions to accomplished teaching. Host webinars about professionalism, classroom management, understanding bias, culturally responsive teaching, and formative assessments.Provide a framework for teaching as an act of social justice and equity to rising educators in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Remote - E Learning

Manage and provide instructional guidance, virtual teaching and general strategies for a caseload of students;Develop, write and help implement IEPs plans;Evaluate tests and assessments, complete grades and conduct parent conferences;Communicate regularly with parents/learning coaches of students with special needs to ensure that their IEP goals are being met, and that their needs are addressed in a timely and appropriate fashion;Consult with teachers and coordinate the implementation of specially designed instruction as defined in the IEP regarding students with specific needs and potential learning issues;Provide direct services to students including services delivered through web-conferencing software, as needed;Schedule, organize and conduct IEP related meetings in a virtual environment, as needed;help teachers and learning coaches develop and implement program modifications and strategies for all students;Assist with locating service providers for students needing related services as mandated by their IEPs;Maintain accurate and up-to-date data in the school’s Internal Management System “Connexus” and ESPED special education software;Assist with administering state testing and coordinate the special adaptations that are required based on the IEP; Experience in policy (IDEA) and/or administration with Special Education. Co-Teach 11th & 12th grade English.Strong technology skills (especially with Microsoft Office products)Excellent communication skills, both oral and written. Student Engagement Presentation to faculty November 2019.Student focused approach

Plymouth, Massachusetts

Develop ELA co-teaching models with general education, special education, reading specialists, and English language learning (ELL) teachers to provide enriching learning opportunities for students.Create and execute rigorous daily lesson plans that align to MA Common Core Frameworks to support high levels of academic achievement in ELA co-taught inclusion settings and small group 9-12 Academic Skills instruction. Utilize a range of data sources to drive instruction, plan for supports and interventions, and develop responsive lesson plans.Use a variety of informal and formal assessments methods, to measure students learning, growth, and progress. Provide varied and differentiated instruction to meet students needs.Engage with families. Encourage families to collaborate with the educational process. Work to improve the classroom, school, and the effectiveness of each student outcome through community collaboration.Create a positive, safe, kind, and achievement-oriented classroom environment based on high expectations that engages, encourages, and motivates students to own their own learning, behaviors, and choices.Active participation in professional development and collegiate collaborations.

North Dighton, Massachusetts

Use of technology to differentiate and customize the learning in ELA, Math, History, and Science. Use of various applications and platforms: Taxedo, Prezi, PageMaker, Moodle, and Blackboard to enhance each students learning opportunity.

Taunton, Massachusetts

Special Education Teacher with Taunton High School (Program ALERT), which is a separate life skills program. The curriculum focuses on functional academics, life skills, and pre-vocational training. I differentiated instruction and formed daily lesson plans that aligned with the curriculum frameworks.Completed an MCAS portfolio for a home-based student that scored 100%, earning substantial category points for the Taunton school district.Developing life skills, including pre-vocational and social skills has provided my students valuable experience as they transition out of high school.

Bachelor Of Arts (Ba), English/Language Arts Teacher Education

Master Of Education (M.Ed.), Special Education And Teaching, Gpa: 3.83

Master Of Business Administration (Mba), Business Administration And Management, General